4 APPG memberships (as of 4 May 2022)
Chalk Streams, Formula One, Global Deforestation, International Conservationvoted No - in line with the party majority
One of 304 Conservative No votes vs 0 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 229 Noes - 312
I ask the hon. Lady to correct the record. If she looks at the website of the Office for National …
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he expects local authorities to have funding …
A Bill to regulate and limit the practice of bottom trawling in marine protected areas, and for connected purposes.
07:19
Name of donor: International Conservation Caucus Federation UK
Address of donor: 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9HE
Estimate of the …
Division Voting information
Chris Grayling voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 77 Conservative No votes vs 222 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 431 Noes - 89
Chris Grayling voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 18 Conservative Aye votes vs 276 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 219 Noes - 280
Chris Grayling voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 97 Conservative No votes vs 224 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 369 Noes - 126
Chris Grayling voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 60 Conservative No votes vs 258 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 385 Noes - 100
Debates during the 2019 Parliament
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
Sparring Partners
(27 debate interactions)
Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Minister for the Union
(8 debate interactions)
Department Debates
(27 debate contributions)
(18 debate contributions)
(13 debate contributions)
(10 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(7,598 words contributed)
(141 words contributed)
Epsom and Ewell Petitions
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
of 5,511 signatures (4.43%)
of 48,052 signatures (0.67%)
of 29,522 signatures (0.37%)
of 50,005 signatures (0.24%)
of 60,946 signatures (0.23%)
of 327,024 signatures (0.17%)
of 188,019 signatures (0.22%)
of 48,052 signatures (0.67%)
of 141,019 signatures (0.20%)
of 5,511 signatures (4.43%)
Petition Closed
Protect the UK's dwindling hedgehog population before it's too late.
Gov Responded - 19 Oct 2020 Debated on - 5 Jul 2021 View Chris Grayling's petition debate contributionsclosed 1 year, 1 month ago
Now the hedgehog has been listed as vulnerable to extinction in the UK, we are calling on the Government to move hedgehogs to schedule 5 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 to allow them greater protection.
Latest EDMs signed by Chris Grayling
Commons initiatives
These initiatives were driven by Chris Grayling, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
Chris Grayling has not been granted any Urgent Questions
Chris Grayling has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
20 Bills introduced by Chris Grayling
A Bill to make provision about the international transport of goods by road; to make provision about the registration of trailers; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on Thursday 19th July 2018 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to make provision about space activities and suborbital activities; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on Thursday 15th March 2018 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to make provision about bus services; and for connected purposes
This Bill received Royal Assent on Thursday 27th April 2017 and was enacted into law.
To make provision about how offenders are dealt with before and after conviction; to amend the offence of possession of extreme pornographic images; to make provision about the proceedings and powers of courts and tribunals; to make provision about judicial review; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on Thursday 12th February 2015 and was enacted into law.
To make provision about how offenders are dealt with before and after conviction; to amend the offence of possession of extreme pornographic images; to make provision about the proceedings and powers of courts and tribunals; to make provision about judicial review; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on Thursday 12th February 2015 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to make provision about the release, and supervision after release, of offenders, to make provision about the extension period for extended sentence prisoners, to make provision about community orders and suspended sentence orders, and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on Thursday 13th March 2014 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to make provision about automated vehicles and electric vehicles.
This Bill received Royal Assent on Thursday 19th July 2018 and was enacted into law.
This Bill received Royal Assent on Thursday 10th May 2018 and was enacted into law.
To amend sections 71, 71A and 84 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982, and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on Thursday 16th November 2017 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to make provision as to matters to which a court must have regard in determining a claim in negligence or breach of statutory duty.
This Bill received Royal Assent on Thursday 12th February 2015 and was enacted into law.
This Bill received Royal Assent on Wednesday 14th May 2014 and was enacted into law.
This Bill received Royal Assent on Thursday 28th February 2013 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to promote the reform of the statute law by the repeal, in accordance with recommendations of the Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission, of certain enactments which (except in so far as their effect is preserved) are no longer of practical utility.
This Bill received Royal Assent on Thursday 31st January 2013 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to amend the law relating to capital and income in trusts.
This Bill received Royal Assent on Thursday 31st January 2013 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to amend the law relating to capital and income in trusts.
This Bill received Royal Assent on Thursday 31st January 2013 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to make provision for a railway between a junction with Phase One of High Speed 2, near Fradley Wood in Staffordshire, and a junction with the West Coast Main Line near Crewe in Cheshire; and for connected purposes.
Date TBA
A Bill to make provision for a railway between a junction with Phase One of High Speed 2, near Fradley Wood in Staffordshire, and a junction with the West Coast Main Line near Crewe in Cheshire; and for connected purposes.
Date TBA
A Bill to make provision about automated vehicles, electric vehicles, vehicle testing and civil aviation; to create an offence of shining or directing a laser at a vehicle; and to make provision about fees for courses offered as an alternative to prosecution for road traffic offences.
Thursday 23rd March 2017
(Read Debate)
A Bill to regulate and limit the practice of bottom trawling in marine protected areas, and for connected purposes.
A Bill to require food manufacturers to label products to indicate the environmental sustainability of their origins; and for connected purposes
Chris Grayling has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
91 Written Questions in the current parliament
(View all written questions)3 Other Department Questions
The Government made payments to councils on 30 March covering the full allocation for the council tax rebate and discretionary fund. Many councils have already started paying the rebate to households.
Minister for Equalities
This Government is firmly committed to protecting and enhancing the Green Belt, in line with our manifesto. There are strong protections for the Green Belt in place. Through national planning policy, local authorities may not alter the boundaries of Green Belt land unless in exceptional circumstances, which must take place through the local plan process. A local authority should consider releasing land from Green Belt only if it can fully evidence that it has explored all other reasonable options for meeting its development needs. This includes using suitable brownfield land for development.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The Government will publish the report and set out its response in due course.
Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Minister for the Union
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
2 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Questions
(View all Chris Grayling's BEIS questions)I am pleased that the UK reached an agreement to take part in the Horizon Europe programme. Association to Horizon has been welcomed by businesses and the research community and will bring huge benefits to the UK.
The Government will be making available an additional £250m in 2021/22 for Horizon association. Also, £400m of funding announced at SR20 to support government priorities has been made available to help pay for our association to Horizon Europe. As a result, UK scientists will have access to more public funding than ever before.
This takes total Government investment in R&D to £14.9 billion in 2021/22 and follows four years of significant growth in R&D funding, including a boost of more than £1.5 billion in 2020/21. It will mean UK Government R&D spending is now at its highest level in four decades.
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Unlike for domestic customers, energy suppliers are not obligated by their supply licence to offer a service to business customers. Contractual terms offered to businesses are a commercial matter for energy suppliers. An offer of a supply contract could depend upon a number of factors, such as the type of business, estimated amount and volatility of consumption, the customer’s credit score and length of contract required. We would encourage businesses to shop around to find the best deal.
Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade
4 Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Questions
(View all Chris Grayling's DCMS questions)Ofcom, as the independent regulator for telecoms, is responsible for regulating market power in the telecoms sector. Ofcom imposes a “no undue discrimination” requirement - which means Openreach must offer equivalence between all providers using its infrastructure unless Openreach is able to demonstrate that this is not possible.
If Openreach is able to demonstrate this, any difference must not put network users at a disadvantage, particularly in terms of extra cost, time or uncertainty compared to Openreach. Therefore, British Telecom is not permitted to offer full fibre broadband before other providers and it is Ofcom’s responsibility to ensure no provider gains an unfair competitive advantage after an installation.
Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Non-professional groups of up to six people can now sing indoors, and can perform or rehearse in groups of up to 30 outdoors. In addition, multiple groups of 30 can now sing outdoors, provided the groups are kept separate throughout the activity. This is an important step forward in the return of non-professional performing arts activity from Step 2.
It is important that we take a cautious approach in easing restrictions. We will continue to keep guidance and restrictions under review, in line with the changing situation. Further detail on step 4 will be set out as soon as possible.
Government has prioritised the safe return of sport including team sports, contact combat sports and organised sports participation events. Organised outdoor sport, such as Parkrun, is exempt from legal gathering limits and can take place with any number of participants, as long as undertaken in line with published COVID-secure guidance. As such, Parkrun has been able to take place since 29 March as part of Step 1 of the government’s response to the Covid-19 Roadmap.
I met with ParkRun on 21 April to discuss their concerns regarding their return and my officials have engaged extensively on this issue over the past year . In addition, I have also issued a letter of support to ParkRun which they have sent on to landowners, clearly acknowledging that these events can take place. I have also raised my support in the House and through social media.
I am committed to supporting them to return as soon as possible. and I appeal to local authorities and landowners to work constructively with park run organisers on the safe return of park runs.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Government recognises the significant impact of Covid-19 on young people, particularly the most vulnerable, and on the youth services that support them. A £16.5m Youth Covid-19 Support Fund has been announced which will protect the immediate future of grassroots and national youth organisations across the country.
This funding will be allocated from the Government’s unprecedented £750 million package of support which is benefiting tens of thousands of frontline charities, so they can continue their vital work. More than £60 million of this package has already been provided to organisations working with vulnerable children and young people.
The Youth Investment Fund remains a manifesto commitment for transformative levelling up across the country over the course of the parliament. In the recently announced Spending Review, £30m of this was committed as capital investment for 2021-22. This will provide a transformational investment in new and refurbished safe spaces for young people, so they can access support youth workers, and positive activities out of school, including sport and culture. Further details of the timetable for allocation will be announced in due course.
12 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Questions
(View all Chris Grayling's Defra questions)The Joint Nature Conservation Committee's (JNCC) seventh Quinquennial Review report was submitted to ministers on 19 April. It provides ministers with independent scientific advice on proposed changes to Schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act. We will consider the recommendations carefully before publishing JNCC's advice later this year. We will consider the report alongside the responses from the Nature Green Paper consultation before any decisions are made.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is currently undertaking significant work in this area to improve the evidence base and address current evidence gaps which will help to inform our policy priorities. For example, specific impacts of environmental labelling on consumers' purchasing behaviour are less well known, so Defra has commissioned consumer insights work to strengthen this evidence area. This will aid better understanding towards the efficacy of eco-labelling on consumer buying preferences and assist in identifying whether environmental labelling leads to more sustainable supply chains, in alignment with reducing the UK's emissions targets.
We want to empower consumers with more effective information to help them make healthier, greener, and more sustainable choices in their diet and are reviewing how food information can be improved - such as through improved labelling - so consumers can make more informed decisions while maintaining freedom of choice.
Elsewhere, we are working with the Environment Agency on its SEEBEYOND project which is looking at the standardisation of metrics in the food and drink sector.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government is committed to halting the decline in species abundance by 2030, through a world-leading legally binding target under the Environment Act. We will shortly be publishing a Green Paper to look at how we can drive the delivery of that target, including through our sites and protections for species, such as the hedgehog. Other actions under the Environment Act are likely to support species like hedgehogs, such as biodiversity net gain for development including nationally significant infrastructure projects. Local Nature Recovery Strategies will also help identify and drive local actions to protect and recover species at a scale that will be beneficial to species such as the hedgehog. Our new environmental land management schemes will pay for sustainable farming practices, creating and preserving habitat such as such as woodland, heathland and species-rich grassland, as well as making landscape-scale environmental changes, all of which could benefit species such as hedgehog.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Plastic waste is a commodity which is traded on a legitimate global market. The export of plastic waste is subject to strict controls set out in UK legislation. Businesses involved in the export of waste are required to take all necessary steps to ensure that the waste they ship is managed in an environmentally sound manner throughout its shipment and during its recycling. Individuals and businesses found to be exporting waste in contravention of the requirements of the legislation can face a two-year jail term and an unlimited fine.
The Government does, however, want to deal with more of our waste at home and that is why we have committed to banning the export of plastic waste to countries which are not members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. The Environment Act contains a power that will enable us to deliver on this commitment and we plan to consult by the end of this year on options to deliver the ban.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to a package of measures to tackle deforestation in our supply chains.
In 2019, the Government asked an independent task force, the Global Resource Initiative (GRI), to provide recommendations on how to reduce the UK's global environmental footprint, with a focus on deforestation. The GRI published its report and 14 recommendations in March 2020.
In response, we have introduced world-leading due diligence legislation through the Environment Act to tackle illegal deforestation in UK supply chains. Our law will make it illegal for larger businesses in the UK to use key forest risk commodities produced on land illegally occupied or used. We launched a consultation on 3 December 2021 to seek views on the detail of regulations that will implement the Environment Act provisions, to ensure that we design them effectively.
The Government also funds and convenes the UK Roundtables on Sustainable Palm Oil and Soy, which bring together UK businesses and provide technical assistance and support to businesses committed to reducing deforestation in these supply chains.
In addition, the Government will lead by example in the procurement of sustainable forest risk commodities. Our consultation to update the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services, taking place early this year, will propose ambitious new requirements that champion legal and sustainably sourced foods.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The total agricultural area in 2019 was 9,604,512 hectares in England and 18,848,943 hectares in the UK.
The utilised agricultural area accounts for 94% (9,059,462 hectares) of the total agricultural area in England and 93% (17,531,535 hectares) in the UK.
The utilised agricultural area includes all arable and horticultural crops, uncropped arable land, common rough grazing, temporary and permanent grassland and land used for outdoor pigs. It excludes woodland and other non-agricultural land (such as tracks, ponds and yards).
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only. The total area in England of non-developed land (agricultural, forest and open land only), which may be available for conversion to agricultural, forestry, moorland or other countryside uses, is 10,910,678 hectares (based on 2018 MHCLG Land Use data, the latest available). A proportion of this land will already comprise species rich or protected habitats or high grades of agricultural land so may not be suitable for conversion to other uses.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Marine protection is a devolved matter and the information provided relates to England only.
The impact a fishing vessel has on a Marine Protected Area is determined by how damaging the fishing method is, rather than the size of the vessel. 'Supertrawlers' generally target pelagic species of fish within the water column and are unlikely to damage the seabed habitats, such as reef and sediment habitats, for which most Marine Protected Areas are designated.
A new power proposed in the Fisheries Bill will allow the Marine Management Organisation to protect offshore Marine Protected Areas from damaging fishing activity. We are prioritising those Marine Protected Areas most at risk and aim to make rapid progress as soon as the transition period ends.
Our Fisheries Bill prohibits any commercial fishing vessel from fishing in UK waters without a licence. It also provides powers to attach conditions (such as the areas that can be fished, species that can be caught and the type of fishing gear that can be used) to fishing vessel licences. Foreign vessels operating in UK waters will have to follow UK rules, including the conditions that are attached to their commercial fishing licence.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Between 2014 and 2024 the Government is investing over £66 million to crack down on the illegal trade of animals and plants, including activities to train rangers in Africa to help communities protect their wildlife from poaching.
We remain fully committed to protecting biodiversity and preventing the loss of species, which is why we are looking carefully at how we can contribute to the international response to the Covid-19 pandemic. This includes through our well respected Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund which has committed over £26 million to 85 projects since it was launched in 2014. The latest round opened for applications on 22 May 2020 and is available to support projects that respond to the emerging impacts of Covid-19 on the illegal trade in wildlife.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra has not made an estimate of the effect of the rise in badger population on the number of hedgehog in England. However, we are aware of research by the National Wildlife Management Centre and others in 2014 which demonstrated that badger removal had positive impacts on hedgehog numbers within grassland sites.
The Department continues to commend work, including research, by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and the People’s Trust for Endangered Species, such as their Conservation Strategy for Hedgehogs. Under our 25 Year Environment Plan, we are committed to creating or restoring 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat to provide benefits for species such as the hedgehog. Agri-environment schemes such as Countryside Stewardship provide funding to restore, extend and link important habitats and boost food resources for our native species.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Forestry Commission produces statistics annually on woodland area in England but not by tree numbers. These are Official Statistics produced to meet the standards of the Code of Practice for Statistics. Woodland area statistics can be found on the Forest Research web site together with background information at https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/forestry-statistics/
The below figures are reported in Forestry Statistics and use data from the National Forest Inventory:
Year at 31 March | Thousand Hectares
| |
|
|
1989 | 1,201 |
1994 | 1,224 |
1999 | 1,246 |
2004 | 1,272 |
2009 | 1,288 |
2014 | 1,302 |
2019 | 1,308 |
Source: Forestry Statistics 2019 | |
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The total budgets allocated to the international forestry projects listed in the Answer of 12 March 2020 are provided in the table below.
Project | Duration of funding | Total budget allocated |
Nepal Multi-Stakeholder Forestry Programme | 2011-2016 | £16,124,703 |
Forest Governance, Markets and Climate (Global) | 2011-2023 | £280,000,000 |
Investments in Forests and Sustainable Land Use (Global) | 2015-2023 | £ 102,596,352 |
International Forestry Knowledge programme (Global) | 2012-2017 | £36,987,765 |
Forestry, Land-use and Governance in Indonesia | 2015-2020 | £32,549,986 |
Improving Livelihoods and Land Use in Congo Basin Forests | 2015-2020 | £15,260,720 |
Green Economic Growth for West Papua (Indonesia) | 2016-2022 | £11,512,311 |
Supporting a Sustainable Future for West Papua’s Forests (Indonesia) | 2018-2020 | £6,200,000 |
Total |
| £501,231,837 |
The international forestry projects receiving funding since 2016 are as follows:
- Nepal Multi-Stakeholder Forestry Programme
- Forest Governance, Markets and Climate (global programme with governance and timber legality focus)
- Investments in Forests and Sustainable Land Use (global programme with supply chains focus)
- International Forestry Knowledge programme (KnowFor)
- Forestry, Land-use and Governance in Indonesia
- Improving Livelihoods and Land Use in Congo Basin Forests
- Green Economic Growth for West Papua (Indonesia)
- Supporting a Sustainable Future for West Papua’s Forests (Indonesia)
In addition, DFID supports forestry projects through its grant contributions to two multilateral funds, the Global Environment Facility and Green Climate Fund.
Tackling climate change and environmental degradation are key priorities for DFID and this Government. At UNCAS in September, the PM announced a new £220m International Biodiversity Fund and that the UK will double our international climate finance to £11.6bn between 2021-2025, helping developing countries to take action in these areas.
Minister of State (Department for Transport)
DFID supports activities related to re-greening in various areas. This includes forestry, where DFID contributes to the UK’s efforts to protect biodiversity, reduce carbon emissions and support the livelihoods of communities reliant on forests and agriculture. Between 2016-2019, DFID provided grants totalling £211 million (bi-lateral and multi-lateral) for international forestry projects.
The UK is also doubling its International Climate Finance to at least £11.6 billion over the period 2021-2025 to help developing countries take action on climate change. This will include a major uplift to support nature-based solutions to climate change.
Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Ministers and officials engage regularly with stakeholders to understand the opportunities and challenges to increasing trade and investment with the region, including at a Mercosur-focused roundtable discussion with businesses chaired by my Hon. Friend the Minister for International Trade last July, and on a visit to Uruguay in September. In November, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade discussed collaboration on trade and health with Argentina's Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero. On Tuesday, the Secretary of State spoke with her Brazilian counterpart Roberto Fendt to discuss opportunities to improve our trade. The Secretary of State and I look forward to further engagement around the next UK-Brazil JETCO later this year.
Minister of State (Department for International Trade)
The Secretary of State for International Trade has had no discussions at the World Trade Organisation on the level of international tariffs on forest risk commodities.
The Department continues to support the Government’s ongoing work to promote the sustainable trade in forest risk commodities, and is considering the role of the WTO and other fora in this effort.
Minister of State (Department for International Trade)
A list of traffic signs that have been approved by the Department, but are not prescribed in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions, 2016, as amended, and require approval by the Secretary of State for Transport, are shown in the table below:
NP 409 & NP 409.1 VARIABLE SPEED LIMIT START/END |
NP 419 TIMES OF OPERATION OF HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANE AHEAD |
NP 420 DEFINITION OF HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANE |
NP 420.1 DEFINITION OF HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANE - NO HGVs OVER 7.5T |
NP 420.2 DEFINITION OF HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANE - NO HGVs |
NP 421 HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANE AHEAD |
NP 423 RISK OF LORRIES OVERTURNING ON ADVERSE CAMBER |
NP 426 ROAD NUMBER AND REFERENCE |
NP 428 & 428.1 START AND END OF FOOTWAY PARKING PROHIBITION |
NP 428.2 FOOTWAY PARKING PROHIBITION REPEATER SIGN |
NP 429 EMERGENCY ACCESS |
NP 430 STOP FOR CONVOY |
NP 431 WAIT HERE FOR CONVOY |
NP 432 NEW ROAD SURFACE |
NP 433 LOW EMISSION ZONE |
NP 545RM ROAD MARKING - CHILDREN |
NP 622.11 TUNNEL CLASSIFICATION PLATE |
NP 818.4A DANGEROUS GOODS PROHIBITED |
NP 829.8 ACCIDENT SLOW |
NP 829.9 ACCIDENT USE HARD SHOULDER |
NP 829.10 EMERGENCY SERVICES TRAINING |
NP 958.2 HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANE AHEAD |
NP 958.6 OFF SIDE BUS LANE AHEAD |
NP 958.7 OFF SIDE HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANE AHEAD |
NP 958.9 BUS, LORRY AND MOTOR CYCLE LANE AHEAD |
NP 958.10 OFF SIDE BUS ONLY LANE AHEAD |
NP 958.11 NEAR SIDE BUS ONLY LANE AHEAD |
NP 958.12 BUS, AUTHORISED VEHICLES AND MOTOR CYCLE LANE AHEAD |
NP 958.13 BUS AND AUTHORISED VEHICLES LANE AHEAD |
NP 958.14 OFF SIDE BUS AND AUTHORISED VEHICLES LANE AHEAD |
NP 958.15 OFF SIDE BUS AND MOTORCYCLE LANE AHEAD |
NP 959.2 HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANE |
NP 959.5 OFF SIDE BUS LANE, CYCLE AND TAXI |
NP 959.6 BUS AND LORRY LANE |
NP 959.7 BUS, LORRY AND MOTOR CYCLE LANE |
NP 959.8 OFF SIDE BUS ONLY LANE |
NP 959.9 NEAR SIDE BUS ONLY LANE |
NP 959.10 BUS, AUTHORISED VEHICLES AND MOTOR CYCLE LANE |
NP 959.11 BUS AND AUTHORISED VEHICLES LANE |
NP 959.12 OFF SIDE BUS AND MOTOR CYCLE LANE |
NP 960.4 CONTRA-FLOW BUS, CYCLE AND TAXI LANE |
NP 962.3 HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANE ON ROAD AT JUNCTION AHEAD |
NP 962.5 BUS AND MOTORCYCLE LANE ON ROAD AT JUNCTION AHEAD |
NP 2919.2 MOTORWAY LORRY ONLY SERVICE AREA AHEAD |
NP 3015 WIG-WAG SIGNAL |
NP MW TOLL MOTORWAY (PERMANENT) : 'Toll' |
NS 56A DIVERSION ROUTE SYMBOL |
NS 66 HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANE |
NS 68 OVERTURNING LORRY |
NS 70 PARKING PLACE PARTIALLY OR WHOLLY ON VERGE OR FOOTWAY |
NS 74 VEHICLE CARRYING DANGEROUS GOODS |
S 68 CLEAN AIR ZONE |
NP 551.3 SMALL WILD ANIMALS |
NP 2514 PARK ACTIVE |
NP 1028.7 E-SCOOTER BAY MARKING |
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
A local authority needs to seek the approval of the Secretary of State for Transport for the use of any traffic signs that are not prescribed in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions, 2016, as amended.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Local authorities may install the toad crossing warning sign only during the migratory period at a site which is approved by the Froglife Trust. The wild fowl warning sign may be installed where birds are habitually found in the road near ponds and watercourses. Both signs are prescribed in The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 and need no further approval.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
South Western Railway (SWR) has provided an increase in peak service between Epsom and London Waterloo from Monday 17 May, this represents an increase on previous service provision. SWR is currently running at 85% of pre-COVID levels, a 13% increase on the pre-17th May Timetable. Service levels will continue to be reviewed regularly to ensure the capacity provided continues to meet the demand.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury and Chief Whip
The Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme (AGOSS) opened for applications on 29 January to provide support for eligible commercial airports and ground handlers in England. It will provide support up to the equivalent of their business rates liabilities or COVID-19 losses – whichever is lower – in the 2020/21 financial year, subject to certain conditions and a cap per claimant of £8m.
Grant payments made to successful applicants can be applied toward costs which are essential to enable the operation of a commercial airport or ground handling operations and falls within the list of eligible expenditure. Payments are not limited to use on business rates cost only.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
All local authorities in England are already able to install School Streets, as they consist of standard traffic management measures readily available to them.
The Active Travel Fund, announced on 9 May, is providing £225 million to local authorities to help them make changes to their road layouts to encourage active travel. Alongside this, the Department published additional Network Management Duty guidance providing advice on what changes the Government expected local authorities to make. School Streets are one of the measures listed.
‘Gear Change: A bold vision for cycling and walking’, published on 28 July, also includes a commitment to create more School Streets, to help deliver the ambition that half of all journeys in urban areas should be walked or cycled.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
In April 2020 Local Housing Allowance rates were set at the 30th percentile of local rents, costing nearly £1 billion and providing - on average - 1.5 million households with an increase of £600 per year.
I can also confirm that the increase to Local Housing Allowance rates will be maintained in cash terms in the next financial year, to continue supporting our claimants to manage housing costs.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
We do not currently hold information to make such an assessment.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
There has been no such assessment.
In April we increased Local Housing Allowance rates for Housing Benefit and Universal Credit to the lowest 30 percent of local rents. This includes all rates in Outer South London and Outer South West London, the two Broad Rental Market Areas which fall within Epsom and Ewell. This significant investment of almost £1billion, ensures over 1 million households will see an increase, on average, of £600 this year.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The Government has committed to invest £375 million in neurodegenerative disease research over the next five years. The Government will provide this funding through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The NIHR and UKRI rely on researchers submitting high-quality applications to access funding, therefore details of specific allocations for paediatric research are not currently available. All applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
A new hospital scheme for Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust forms part of the Government’s commitment to deliver 40 new hospitals by 2030. The Department and NHS England and NHS Improvement are working with all schemes in the programme on the timetable for delivery over the decade. We continue to discuss the development of the plans with Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust. All schemes within the new hospital programme will follow the usual business case process, including being reviewed and agreed with HM Treasury.
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are taking a phased approach to our inbound vaccination programme with other countries and territories, building on the success of the pilot with the United States and Europe. Vaccine certification between countries and territories varies and we are ensuring that certificates and apps meet our minimum requirements on content and that carriers are clear about the certification we will accept. Sri Lanka’s vaccine certification will be considered in the future expansion of the policy.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Public Health England (PHE) has made no specific assessment.
However, data on the number of people who are hospitalised due to COVID-19 is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/covid-19-hospital-activity/
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
As of March 2021, there were 536 more full time equivalent doctors working in general practice compared to March 2019.
NHS England and NHS Improvement and Health Education England are working with the profession to increase the general practice workforce in England. This includes measures to boost recruitment, address the reasons why doctors leave the profession and encourage them to return to practice. A record 3,793 doctors accepted a place in general practitioner (GP) specialty training in 2020/21, against a target of 3,500. From 2021, the Government has committed to increasing the number of GP training places to 4,000 a year.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Recycling is not currently an option for used plastic swabs and the associated lateral flow device test kit. The preferred waste management route is via energy recovery. However, landfill can be utilised if energy recovery is not available.
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department has monitored a collection of small studies which have now completed and provided some positive signals on the use of ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19. However, larger scale studies are still needed to confirm the effectiveness and safety of this treatment. The Therapeutics Taskforce is aware that several more studies into ivermectin are set to conclude in the next few months and will continue to monitor these ongoing trials to assess the evidence available on whether ivermectin is an effective treatment for COVID-19.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This information is not collected in the format requested. Public Health England’s series counts deaths in people with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 but does not provide definitive information on the causal role of COVID-19 in relation to individual deaths.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This data is not held centrally.
Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
NHS England and NHS Improvement publish key data on bed occupancy, including daily and weekly COVID-19 admissions and bed occupancy.
Quarterly bed numbers and occupancy, including general and acute beds is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/bed-availability-and-occupancy/
Data collection on critical care bed numbers has been suspended during the response to COVID-19.
Weekly critical care bed availability and occupancy for winter 2020/21 is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/uec-sitrep/
Daily and weekly COVID-19 admissions and bed occupancy is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/covid-19-hospital-activity/
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The information is not held in the format requested.
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
A large observational research study conducted by NHS Digital using data from Public Health England's dataset published in November 2020, found that that the average time from onset of COVID-19 symptoms to hospital admission was 4.6 days.
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Given the incubation period of the virus and local differences in application of testing protocols, it is not possible to definitively determine the number of people who contracted the virus while in hospital in England to date.
The published data shows that between 1 August and 3 November there were 33,719 estimated new hospital cases where the patient was admitted for the first time with COVID-19 or diagnosed in hospital. Of these 28,408 patients were admitted for the first time with COVID-19 or were diagnosed in hospital where the test was within seven days of admission and therefore hospital association is unlikely.
Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Given the incubation period of the virus and local differences in application of testing protocols, it is not possible to definitively determine the number of people who contracted the virus while in hospital in England to date.
The published data shows that between 1 August and 3 November there were 33,719 estimated new hospital cases where the patient was admitted for the first time with COVID-19 or diagnosed in hospital. Of these 28,408 patients were admitted for the first time with COVID-19 or were diagnosed in hospital where the test was within seven days of admission and therefore hospital association is unlikely.
Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
We publish weekly data on the number of incidents in each setting with at least one laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19.
This information is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-flu-and-covid-19-surveillance-reports
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The concept of a substantial meal is long established in law, for example in the Licensing Act 2003, and in the practice of the hospitality industry and is readily familiar to those who operate and regulate licensed premises. There is no obligation on licensees or their staff to regulate the possible clinical aspects of their customers’ choice of meal.
Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Public Health England (PHE) COVID-19 death data series counts deaths in people with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and is not designed to provide definitive information on the causal role of COVID-19 in relation to individual deaths. A PHE analysis from 3 August found that 95% of deaths that occurred within 28 days of the first positive test had a mention of COVID-19 on the death certificate, further information is included in the PHE Technical Summary of 12 August 2020 which is available at the following link:
PHE does not hold data for what proportion of deaths within 28 days of a positive COVID-19 test in each of the last six months resulted from an infection acquired in a hospital or social care setting.
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Public Health England (PHE) COVID-19 death data series counts deaths in people with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and is not designed to provide definitive information on the causal role of COVID-19 in relation to individual deaths. A PHE analysis from 3 August found that 95% of deaths that occurred within 28 days of the first positive test had a mention of COVID-19 on the death certificate, further information is included in the PHE Technical Summary of 12 August 2020 which is available at the following link:
PHE does not hold data for what proportion of deaths within 28 days of a positive COVID-19 test in each of the last six months resulted from an infection acquired in a hospital or social care setting.
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The information requested from November 2017 to February 2020 is shown in the following table.
| % of Open beds occupied | |||
Year | Period | Adult critical care beds | Paediatric intensive care beds | Neonatal critical care cots (or beds) |
|
|
|
|
|
2017-18 | November | 84.6% | 82.9% | 74.0% |
2017-18 | December | 82.2% | 79.9% | 70.9% |
2017-18 | January | 86.6% | 77.2% | 71.5% |
2017-18 | February | 85.4% | 79.3% | 69.7% |
2017-18 | March | 82.6% | 78.7% | 72.3% |
2018-19 | April | 81.9% | 73.8% | 72.2% |
2018-19 | May | 79.9% | 73.3% | 72.9% |
2018-19 | June | 79.6% | 75.4% | 74.2% |
2018-19 | July | 78.3% | 72.4% | 69.8% |
2018-19 | August | 78.4% | 66.2% | 70.1% |
2018-19 | September | 80.0% | 76.1% | 69.3% |
2018-19 | October | 80.8% | 77.2% | 73.8% |
2018-19 | November | 82.7% | 87.6% | 72.5% |
2018-19 | December | 75.4% | 74.1% | 67.4% |
2018-19 | January | 85.3% | 79.3% | 70.1% |
2018-19 | February | 81.5% | 77.4% | 70.1% |
2018-19 | March | 80.7% | 77.3% | 71.2% |
2019-20 | April | 80.8% | 77.0% | 70.2% |
2019-20 | May | 79.2% | 73.3% | 70.8% |
2019-20 | June | 80.6% | 74.9% | 73.3% |
2019-20 | July | 79.6% | 73.8% | 69.9% |
2019-20 | August | 79.4% | 64.7% | 69.4% |
2019-20 | September | 80.8% | 74.4% | 69.9% |
2019-20 | October | 80.9% | 76.5% | 69.7% |
2019-20 | November | 82.9% | 83.5% | 73.0% |
2019-20 | December | 75.3% | 79.6% | 71.5% |
2019-20 | January | 83.0% | 79.2% | 71.2% |
2019-20 | February | 81.1% | 81.3% | 69.3% |
Notes:
- Data relating to the number of available and occupied critical care beds is a monthly snapshot taken at midnight on the last Thursday of each month and can fluctuate from month to month.
- Before February 2011, data on critical care beds were published bi-annually in a separate collection. Therefore, critical care data published until January 2011 should be treated with a degree of caution.
- 3. In November 2018, NHS England published refreshed guidance for MSitRep which provided clarification on the definition for Paediatric Intensive Care (PIC) bed availability and occupancy. This update was made to ensure definitions reflected the latest terminology and Paediatric Intensive Care Society (PICS) standards, to improve data quality and address overcounting of PIC beds (including possible inclusion of some high dependency unit (HDU, level 2) beds. Therefore, PIC bed availability data from November 2018 shows a step change, with the 339 reported beds in November 2018 being approximately 130 – 140 lower than previously in 2018-19 (around 460-470 available beds).
Due to COVID-19 and the need to release capacity across the National Health Service to support the response, NHS England have paused the monthly collection and publication of critical care bed capacity. However, from 12 November 2020, a separate weekly data update commenced which includes data on adult critical care capacity and occupancy. Data from 2 November to 15 November is available at the following link:
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Data is not available in the format requested.
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK has committed to invest at least £3 billion in climate change solutions that protect and restore nature and biodiversity between 2021-22 and 2025-26. FCDO systems to categorise Official Development Assistance do not include a specific category for environmental restoration, and we do not hold information centrally on such spending.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK regularly engages with the Brazilian Government on deforestation in the Amazon. In the run up to, and during COP26, COP President Alok Sharma met with Brazil's Environment Minister Joaquim Leite regularly, and The Minister for the Pacific and the Environment met with many Brazilian State Governors who are essential partners in meeting deforestation targets and climate change commitments. Our Ambassador to Brazil, Peter Wilson, also met with the Minister for the Environment, Joaquim Leite, on two occasions in December as well as with Senate Speaker Pacheco. The UK will continue to work with the Federal Government, state level leadership, the private sector and civil society to help tackle deforestation and protect the rainforest.
While we are concerned by the rising rates of deforestation in the Amazon, we were pleased to welcome Brazil's positive commitments at COP26. Brazil signed the Forest and Land Use pledge and committed to eliminating illegal deforestation by 2028, and to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030. The UK will support this and other climate commitments by doubling our International Climate Finance to £11.6 billion over the next five years - we will be investing at least £3 billion of this in solutions that protect and restore nature. The introduction of world-leading due diligence legislation through the Environment Bill will also tackle illegal deforestation in UK supply chains.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Providing assistance to those individuals eligible for HMG support remains a top priority. We have created a new Joint Afghanistan Casework Unit (JACU), staffed by officials from the FCDO, Home Office and Ministry of Defence, which is taking forward the UK's commitment to resettle individuals and those family members confirmed to be eligible. We will continue to work to take advantage of all opportunities to help those eligible to come to the UK to leave Afghanistan. We have also announced the Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), which in its first year will welcome up to 5,000 vulnerable Afghans to the UK who have been forced to flee the country, with up to a total of 20,000 over the coming years. ACRS will provide protection for Afghan citizens at risk, including women and girls and members of minority groups, and who have stood up for our democratic values in Afghanistan.
Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
This Government is substantially increasing investment in protecting the ocean. Our Commonwealth Marine Economies Programme assists developing Caribbean and Pacific island nations to safeguard their marine habitats, which are essential for sustaining coastal economies. The new £500 million Blue Planet Fund was launched by the Prime Minister in June. It will support, for example, protecting coral reefs and mangroves.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In March 2014, the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) adopted resolution 25/1, which was led by the UK and other members of the Core Group on Sri Lanka. This resolution established the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL), which reported in 2015. Since then, the UK has continued to lead efforts at the UNHRC to advance post-conflict accountability, reconciliation and human rights in successive UNHRC resolutions.
The UK government remains concerned about the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, including the issues faced by the Tamil community. The Minister for South Asia, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, set out our concerns in a statement at the UNHRC on 25 February. The UK, again alongside Core Group partner countries, has presented a new draft resolution at the UNHRC which aims to provide a framework for continued international engagement on human rights and post-conflict accountability in Sri Lanka. The draft text requests enhanced monitoring and reporting by OHCHR on the human rights situation and requests the UN to collect, preserve and analyse evidence which could be used in future accountability processes.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister without Portfolio)
The Government understands concerns about the impact of the 90 days in a rolling 180-day visa-free travel limit on British Citizens who travel to the EU for extended periods of time, as reflected in representations over recent months, including from British Citizens who own second homes in EU Member States and the yachting/sailing community.
The Government discussed arrangements with the EU for British Citizens travelling to the Schengen Area. Regrettably, the EU consistently maintained that British Citizens will be treated as Third Country Nationals under the Schengen Borders Code from 1 January 2021. This means that British Citizens will be able to travel visa-free for short stays for up to 90 days in a rolling 180-day period. This is the standard length of stay that the EU offers to nationals of eligible third countries that offer visa-free travel for EU citizens, in line with existing EU legislation.
Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government discussed arrangements with the EU for British Citizens travelling to the Schengen Area. Regrettably, the EU consistently maintained that British Citizens will be treated as Third Country Nationals under the Schengen Borders Code from 1 January 2021. This means that British Citizens will be able to travel visa-free for short stays for up to 90 days in a rolling 180-day period. This is the standard length of stay that the EU offers to nationals of eligible third countries that offer visa-free travel for EU citizens, in line with existing EU legislation. British Citizens planning to stay longer will need permission from the relevant Member State.
The UK's Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU confirms that both the UK and EU currently provide for visa-free travel for short-term visits for each other's nationals in accordance with their respective laws. The detail of those arrangements is set by domestic law. The Government does not typically enter into bilateral agreements on visa-free travel.
Minister of State (Department for Transport)
From 5 November, the FCDO stopped advising against all travel worldwide and reverted to country-based advice. FCDO travel advice remains under constant review and considers both epidemiological and non-epidemiological risks in each destination. When the FCDO no longer assesses the risks to British nationals to be unacceptably high, travel advice is updated accordingly.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister without Portfolio)
The full extent of the impact of Covid 19 on the illegal wildlife trade is not currently known. However, it is a serious crime, often undertaken by organised criminal networks – and it decimates endangered species, undermines growth and deprives communities of resources. In 2018 the UK hosted the largest ever illegal wildlife trading Conference, at which 65 countries signed up to the London Declaration, committing to accelerating efforts to stopping the trade. Part of that involves significantly expanding the UK’s Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund which has already committed over £26 million to 85 projects since 2014. We also contribute £250 million to the Global Environment Facility which runs the world’s biggest programme tackling illegal wildlife trading.
Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The Chancellor announced at Spring Statement 2022 that the VAT relief for the installation of energy saving materials (ESMs) will be expanded in Great Britain.
From 1 April 2022, complex eligibility conditions to access the relief have been removed and wind and water turbines have been reinstated as qualifying materials. Qualifying installations will also now benefit from a VAT zero-rate until April 2027. Overall, this represents an additional £280 million of support for investment in ESMs over the next 5 years.
However, the VAT relief for ESMs was not extended to double glazing. While double glazing does have energy saving properties, it is already a popular means to improve the energy efficiency of one’s home. The English Housing Survey suggests that more than 85 per cent of properties in England are already fully double glazed: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/445440/EHS_Energy_efficiency_of_English_housing_2013.pdf.
As such, providing tax relief as an additional incentive to install double glazing in one’s home would represent poor value for money.
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC publish provisional monthly statistics tables for “HMRC tax receipts and National Insurance contributions for the UK” which contain columns with the UK figures for Stamp taxes on the 3 categories of “Shares”, “Stamp Duty Land Tax” and “Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings”. The provisional nature of these figures can mean that that they can change.
The latest estimate for revenue impact of the Stamp Duty Land Tax holiday, including the extension at the Spring Budget 2021, has been published by the NAO in their COVID-19 cost tracker.
There is no legal right of appeal against decisions made in relation to the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS), and there is also no legal provision for ‘reasonable excuse’ within the legal framework for SEISS.
HMRC have limited discretion in operating the SEISS and any exercise of this discretion must be rational and justifiable on the grounds of good management and administration. This discretion can only be used in exceptional circumstances. Such circumstances could include situations where HMRC have made an error which has affected an individual’s eligibility for, or amount of, a SEISS grant.
The SEISS continues to be just one element of a substantial package of support for the self-employed. Those ineligible for the SEISS may still be eligible for other elements of the support available. The temporary £20 per week increase to the Universal Credit standard allowance has been extended for six months, and the Government has decided to extend the suspension of the Minimum Income Floor for three months, to the end of July 2021, so that where self-employed claimants' earnings have fallen significantly, their Universal Credit award will have increased to reflect their lower earnings. In addition to this, they may also have access to other elements of the package, including Restart Grants, the Recovery Loan scheme, business rates relief, and other business support schemes.
Data on Stamp Duty revenue up to 2019-20 is available in HM Revenue & Customs Annual Stamp Taxes publication: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-stamp-tax-statistics.
It is not possible to give an estimate of the number of Afghan Christians settled in the UK following the Taliban’s return to power because details of an individual’s religious beliefs are not routinely captured by the Home Office.
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
Priority Visa services are currently available in some locations overseas, but availability will differ by territory depending on Covid restrictions in place in a specific area at any one time. If available, customers are able to purchase these services when booking an appointment at a visa application centre.
Super Priority and Priority services have also been reinstated in the UK for Work and Study routes, including applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain. It is anticipated these services for Marriage and Settlement routes in the UK will be reinstated by the end of March 2021.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Direct marketing, including spam emails, are regulated by the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR) which is enforced by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the independent data protection regulator. PECR regulates unsolicited marketing emails and specifies organisations must only send these to individuals who have agreed to receive them, except where there is a clearly defined customer relationship.
The ICO has the powers to impose civil monetary penalties of up to £500,000 for serious contraventions of the PECR. In cases where a clear and serious breach of the legislation has taken place, the ICO will take direct action and/or enforcement action.
In a situation where someone sends a scam email with the intention of defrauding another person, this conduct is already likely to constitute an offence under the Fraud Act 2006.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Home Office does not hold this data.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council publishes monthly fixed penalty notice statistics and crime trends and the latest analysis can be found here: https://news.npcc.police.uk/releases/crime-trends-and-penalty-notices-issued-under-covid-regulations-update
This shows in total, 42,675 fixed penalty notices were recorded as having been issued in England and Wales under coronavirus regulations between 27 March 2020 and 17 January 2021.
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
In its most recent published statistics, the National Police Chiefs’ Council reported on 30 November that 641 Fixed Penalty Notices were issued between 15 June and 16 November for breaches of the Face Coverings Regulations across England and Wales. Of these FPNs:
- 169 were issued against the regulations concerning wearing a face covering on public transport, across twelve forces (including British Transport Police in England and Wales).
- 472 were issued against regulations concerning the wearing a face covering in a relevant place, such as a retail setting, across thirty-two forces (including British Transport Police in England and Wales).
The latest statistics published by NPCC can be found here:
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice) (jointly with Home Office)
9 Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities Questions
(View all Chris Grayling's DLUHC questions)A national programme of events and celebrations is being planned around the momentous occasion of Her Majesty the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. This will include a weekend of national street parties and the lighting of beacons across the whole of the United Kingdom. MHLCG has previously supported local celebrations for VE/VJ day and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, and we are currently producing guidance for local authorities on how they may choose to mark the occasion which will include timelines, a variety of suggested activities, and a 'how to' guide on preparing for street parties and other public events.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
I refer my Rt Hon Friend to the answer I gave to PQ UIN 157016 on 1 March 2021
Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons)
The Government remains committed to meeting its target of net zero emissions by 2050 and recognises the important contribution that the energy efficiency of buildings has to make in meeting it. We must ensure that the energy efficiency standards we set through the Building Regulations for new homes put us on track to meet the 2050 target. From 2021, new homes will be expected to produce 31% less CO2 emissions compared to current standards, and from 2025, the Future Homes Standard (FHS) will ensure that new homes produce at least 75% lower CO2 emissions compared to those built to current standards. Homes built under the FHS will be ‘zero carbon ready’, which means that in the longer term, no further retrofit work for energy efficiency will be necessary to enable them to become zero-carbon homes as the electricity grid continues to decarbonise.
The Building Regulations set minimum energy performance standards for new homes and non-domestic buildings. They are couched in performance terms and do not prescribe the technologies, materials or fuels to be used, allowing builders and homeowners the flexibility to innovate and select the most practical and cost-effective solutions appropriate in any development. For example, many roofs are not suitable for solar photovoltaic (PV) panels because of the visual amenity, strength, or direction of the building.
Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons)
The National Planning Policy Framework maintains a high level of protection for the Green Belt, and states that local authorities should propose to alter Green Belt boundaries only where they can demonstrate that there are exceptional circumstances and that they have examined all other reasonable options for meeting their identified development needs. They are expected to show that they have been using their brownfield and under-used land; optimising density; and exploring opportunities in neighbouring authority areas under the duty to cooperate. In examining local plans, a planning inspector will look for evidenced justification of any proposed change to a Green Belt, to check that all reasonable alternatives have been considered.
In line with our manifesto commitment, the reform proposals in Planning for the Future, currently out for consultation, do not affect the Framework’s strong protections for Green Belt land.
Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons)
To get enough?homes built in the places where people and communities need them,?a crucial first step is to plan for the right number of homes.??To support our overall aspirations, and to?target more homes into areas where they are least affordable, we are proposing to revise the number of homes authorities should plan for.
We have not published an authority by authority list of numbers generated by the formula. The formula uses variable?data?and it is down to local planning authorities to calculate their local housing need.
Paragraph 23-39 of the Changes to the current planning system consultation explains step-by-step the proposed calculation for the updated standard method.???
Lower household projections do not mean that fewer homes are needed?– in some cases they reflect existing under-supply, where lack of provision stops new households from forming.
Not all homes that are planned for are?built, so our proposed formula includes a buffer to account for the drop off rate between permissions and completions. This?gives the best opportunity to?deliver against our aspirations while also ensuring that the market offers?a good?choice of homes.??
The affordability adjustment used in the proposed standard method is based on the median house price to workplace-based earnings ratio, published annually by the Office for National Statistics.
The house price to workplace-based earnings ratio compares the median salary earnt in a local authority against the median house price in that same authority area. This ratio is used as people typically choose to live close to where they work – and therefore is a proxy for demand within the housing market.
Earnings data is taken from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) Release, which provides data on the levels, distribution and make-up of earnings and hours worked by UK employees. This data does not cover the self-employed.
The proposals were out for consultation until 1 October 2020. Following consideration of the consultation responses received, the Government will publish a response in due course. The response will set out any decisions and any associated proposed implementation.
Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons)
To get enough?homes built in the places where people and communities need them,?a crucial first step is to plan for the right number of homes.??To support our overall aspirations, and to?target more homes into areas where they are least affordable, we are proposing to revise the number of homes authorities should plan for.
We have not published an authority by authority list of numbers generated by the formula. The formula uses variable?data?and it is down to local planning authorities to calculate their local housing need.
Paragraph 23-39 of the Changes to the current planning system consultation explains step-by-step the proposed calculation for the updated standard method.???
Lower household projections do not mean that fewer homes are needed?– in some cases they reflect existing under-supply, where lack of provision stops new households from forming.
Not all homes that are planned for are?built, so our proposed formula includes a buffer to account for the drop off rate between permissions and completions. This?gives the best opportunity to?deliver against our aspirations while also ensuring that the market offers?a good?choice of homes.??
The affordability adjustment used in the proposed standard method is based on the median house price to workplace-based earnings ratio, published annually by the Office for National Statistics.
The house price to workplace-based earnings ratio compares the median salary earnt in a local authority against the median house price in that same authority area. This ratio is used as people typically choose to live close to where they work – and therefore is a proxy for demand within the housing market.
Earnings data is taken from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) Release, which provides data on the levels, distribution and make-up of earnings and hours worked by UK employees. This data does not cover the self-employed.
The proposals were out for consultation until 1 October 2020. Following consideration of the consultation responses received, the Government will publish a response in due course. The response will set out any decisions and any associated proposed implementation.
Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons)
To get enough?homes built in the places where people and communities need them,?a crucial first step is to plan for the right number of homes.??To support our overall aspirations, and to?target more homes into areas where they are least affordable, we are proposing to revise the number of homes authorities should plan for.
We have not published an authority by authority list of numbers generated by the formula. The formula uses variable?data?and it is down to local planning authorities to calculate their local housing need.
Paragraph 23-39 of the Changes to the current planning system consultation explains step-by-step the proposed calculation for the updated standard method.???
Lower household projections do not mean that fewer homes are needed?– in some cases they reflect existing under-supply, where lack of provision stops new households from forming.
Not all homes that are planned for are?built, so our proposed formula includes a buffer to account for the drop off rate between permissions and completions. This?gives the best opportunity to?deliver against our aspirations while also ensuring that the market offers?a good?choice of homes.??
The affordability adjustment used in the proposed standard method is based on the median house price to workplace-based earnings ratio, published annually by the Office for National Statistics.
The house price to workplace-based earnings ratio compares the median salary earnt in a local authority against the median house price in that same authority area. This ratio is used as people typically choose to live close to where they work – and therefore is a proxy for demand within the housing market.
Earnings data is taken from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) Release, which provides data on the levels, distribution and make-up of earnings and hours worked by UK employees. This data does not cover the self-employed.
The proposals were out for consultation until 1 October 2020. Following consideration of the consultation responses received, the Government will publish a response in due course. The response will set out any decisions and any associated proposed implementation.
Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons)
The Government does not set housing targets. It is for local planning authorities to determine how many homes they will plan for through the local plan making process. The national planning policy framework sets out that in doing this strategic plan making, authorities should use the standard method for assessing local housing need as the starting point in this process. The projections of future household growth are published by the Office of National Statistics and are available publicly online.
Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons)